Stern drive installer

[QC]

My nephew has left Magic Boats and is starting his own shop. I'll say one thing about Nathan, he has big cajones to quit in a seriously down, boat market, but I digress . . . He wants a rolling stern drive jack/installer thing. I have found a few Yardarm Installers at over $1000 Yeah, I know, good tools are expensive. Are there any other alternatives that I should be checking into this side of making one?

 

[QC]

Re: Stern drive installer

Bump ^^^^^

I found this type too:

Any other ideas?

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: Stern drive installer

My own idea, works perfectly! 4 screws hold it on

 

[QC]

Re: Stern drive installer

Yeah, I saw that on another thread. Only problem is that it really only works for one boat. Different trailers, twins, tunnels will all have different heights that may not be able to be handled by the trailer jack alone . . .

 

[JustJason]

Re: Stern drive installer

http://www.kerrsmarine.com/html/sd3.html

no idea on the price though.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Stern drive installer

Howdy,

I have a lift like below from Harbor Freight.
I used it to pull the engine out of my 66 Marktwain a few years ago. It actually went high enough to lift it above the gunwales. it probably wouldn't cut it on larger boats though but it works pretty nice on the drive.

they're not very expensive.....

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Stern drive installer

I have one of ^^^^ those HF engine hoists.

It works OK for a DIY engine hoist, but seemed difficult to steer since it has 6 casters. Was like wrestling a bear cat while trying to get it perfectly into position in my driveway, friggin caster would catch the expansion joints and make it difficult to steer,,, and those additional center caster's made steering even worse.

It would probably get his shop up and running, but I think he will be looking for something more user-friendly,,, a purpose built tool.

I hate to say it,,, but with all of the marine shops going out of business, why don't you see if you can find one from a marine dealership that's closing.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Stern drive installer

We also used an engine hoist similar to the harbor freight one to put the engine pack in our Mark Twain 20ft-er. The hoist had just enough lift to get the 351 over the gunwale; however we did have to remove the tires on the trailer on that side to lower the height with a floor jack! Another inch or two lower and it wouldn't have happened.

I would think you could build an adjustible version of what coastalcruiser had, just by adding a lifting mechanism like a scissor jack and a hand crank to adjust the height.